FC Rouen

Football Club de Rouen 1899 was founded under the name Football Club de Rouen in 1896 by an English merchant known by the surname Willing. The club was initially formed as a rugby club. Rouen spent three seasons primarily playing the sport of rugby before association football was introduced to the club in 1899. On 11 July 1899, the club officially announced the introduction of a football section. The section, primarily influenced by player Robert Diochon was, upon its creation, inserted into the regional league, Normandie Championnat, by the USFSA. In 1903, the club acquired the nickname Les Diables Rouges (The Red Devils). In 1910, Diochon was installed as president of the club. Under the reign of Diochon, Rouen won the Normandie Championnat in five straight seasons from 1909 to 1914. After World War I and the dissolving of the USFSA, Rouen began playing in the Normandie Division d'Honneur. From 1919 to 1933, the club won the league eight times and were led by mercurial striker Jean Nicolas. In 1925, Rouen reached the Coupe de France final. In the final, the club faced CASG Paris and were defeated 3–2 in the replay of the final. The first leg had ended in a 1–1 draw, which caused the replay.

In July 1930, the National Council of the French Football Federation voted 128–20 in support of professionalism in French football. Rouen were among several clubs to adopt the new statute and, subsequently, became professional. The club was inserted into the second division and, as a result, became founding members of Division 2. In the league's inaugural season, Rouen finished 3rd. In the league's second season, the club finished as champions, thus earning promotion to Division 1. In Rouen's debut season in Division 1, the club surprisingly finished in 4th place. The club also reached the semi-finals of that year's Coupe de France. Rouen remained in Division 1 until the onset of World War II stopped the competition. After the war, professional football returned and Rouen were back in Division 1. The club spent only two seasons in the league before falling to Division 2 after finishing dead last in the 1946–47 season. Rouen spent the next 13 seasons playing in the second division. In 1953, Diochon died and the presidency was handed over to Auguste Duchêne. Under Duchêne, Rouen returned to Division 1 in 1960 and finished in 4th place in the club's first season back. Rouen remained consistent in the table for the next two seasons before falling down to the bottom half of the table in 1963. After finishing in the bottom half for five straight seasons, Rouen were forced into relegation by the French Football Federation after the club gave up its professional status due to financial and administrative issues.

Aside from a three-year stint in Division 1 from 1982 to 1985, Rouen have not maintain a consistent place in the first division since giving up its professional status. From 1970 to 1994, the club spent most of its life playing in Division 2. In 1995, the club filed for bankruptcy and subsequently changed its name to Grand FC Rouen. As a result of its bankruptcy filing, the club was administratively relegated to the Championnat National, the third level of football. In 1997, Rouen were relegated to the Championnat de France amateur and, in the next season, were playing in the fifth division. In 1999, Rouen, as an amateur club, reached the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France.

In July 2000, the club's new incoming president René Bertin changed the club's name to its current form. The club underwent a rebirth and, after three seasons, were back playing in the National division. In the 2002–03 season, Rouen finished 3rd in National and, as a result, earned promotion back to Division 2, now called Ligue 2. The club's return as a professional outfit was short as Rouen spent a disastrous season in the league, ultimately finishing in dead last. An ensuing relegation from National occurred in the following season and Rouen were back in the fourth division. In 2008, the club endured serious financial issues, which led to the club being relegated to the Championnat de France amateur 2 by the DNCG. However, after successfully appealing to the organisation, Rouen were inserted back into the fourth division. The club, subsequently, finished first in its group and were promoted back to National.

In the 2012–13 season, Rouen placed 5th in Championnat National, but they were relegated to the sixth division, Division d'Honneur, due to severe financial trouble of their management company.

In April 2015, US Quevilly joined with FC Rouen to form US Quevilly-Rouen Métropole, taking the place of US Quevilly in the Championnat de France Amateur for the 2015–16 season. This was not a straight merger, as FC Rouen continued to exist as separate entity with its own teams, whilst the new joint entity incorporated the colours and crest of FC Rouen into its kits and crest.^[1]

In 2017, FC Rouen were promoted from the Division d'Honneur Normandy to play in Championnat National 3.^[2] In the 2017–18 season, Rouen ensured their survival in National 3 on the final day. In June 2018, FC Rouen ended their arrangement with US Quevilly-Rouen Métropole.^[3][4] The following season, in 2019, they won promotion to Championnat National 2.^[5] In the 2022–23 season, Rouen gained promotion to the Championnat National.^[6] On 21 January 2024, FC Rouen defeated defending Coupe de France champions Toulouse 12–11 on penalties after the match finished 3–3 after extra-time to book their place in the round of 16 against AS Monaco.^[7] After a 1–1 game, they similarly defeated Monaco on penalties, earning a spot in the quarterfinals for the first time in 25 years. On 29 February 2024, Rouen played against Valenciennes in the Coupe de France quarter-finals. Rouen's run in the competition would end after losing 4–2 on penalties. The two teams could not be separated at the end of 120 minutes with the game finishing 1-1.^[8]

As of 14 October 2024^[9]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   FRA Axel Maraval 3 DF   FRA Paul Lehoux 5 MF   FRA Malik Abdelmoula 6 MF   FRA Mustapha Benzia 7 MF   FRA Mohamed Ouadah 8 MF   FRA Omar Bezzekhami 9 MF   FRA Djibrail Dib 10 MF   FRA Abdeljalil Sahloune 11 MF   FRA Samy El Khiar 13 MF   CIV Amara Toure 14 MF   FRA Naël Bensoula 16 GK   FRA Lucas Royes 17 MF   IRQ Ahmad Allée 18 DF   FRA Clément Bassin

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 DF   FRA Ruffice Amédé Kabongo 21 MF   FRA Florian Deschamps 22 DF   GNB Adon Gomis 23 FW   FRA Jason Mbock 24 DF   FRA Yazid Ait Moujane 25 FW   FRA Ichem Ferrah (on loan from Lille) 26 DF   FRA Valentin Sanson 27 FW   FRA Hicham Benkaid 28 FW   FRA Diawoye Diawara 29 DF   FRA Mathieu Mion 37 FW   CMR Christ-Emmanuel Letono Mbondi

Below are the notable former players who have represented Rouen in league and international competition since the club's foundation in 1899. To appear in the section below, a player must have played in at least 80 official matches for the club.

For a complete list of Rouen players, see Category:FC Rouen players

Football Club de Rouen 1899^[10]

• President: Fabrice Tardy
• Vice-president: Stéphane Leroux

Coaching and medical staff^[11]

• Manager: David Fouquet
• Assistant manager: Raynald Bertin
• Goalkeeping coach: Alexandre Lerond
• Intendant: Ali Mathlouti

• Division 1: 1944–45
• Division 2: 1935–36
• Championnat National 2: 2008–09, 2022–23
• Coupe de France runners-up: 1924–25
• Coupe de la Ligue runners-up: 1963–64
• Division d'Honneur (Normandy): 1921–22, 1923–24, 1926–27, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1932–33
• USFSA Normandy League: 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to FC Rouen.

• (in French) Official website
• (in French) Culs Rouges Supporters Trust^{[permanent dead link‍]}